Need help making the best out of...

[mrst]

a potentially bad situation. Last fall I booked a 8 nights/9 days at Freedom Paradise for this upcoming spring break (April 15-23.) My husband is a teacher so we needed to book early to ensure a decent rate on the dates. We paid a fair price and the place looked nice enough so I thought we were in the clear.

There have been some recent *quite scary* reviews out on Trip Advisor that are making me brace myself for the worst as it's impossible to change hotels since we booked on Hotwire. Room complains of being robbed, someone going through luggage, toilet/sewage issues, lack of fresh towels, trying to change rooms and getting resistance. Beach complaints of not enough lounges, the kayak & snorkeling checkout being closed often, the seaweed taking over the beach, etc. General Hotel Management issues such as running out of margarita mix, warm or no beer, running out of paper plates at the beach snack bar, tables not being cleared off & reset, no variety in food selection, poor service in general with bartenders turning their backs or ignoring you and the front desk staff pretending to be ignorant.

Quite honestly I think some of the complaints out there are a little ridiculous and stuff like poor food selection is a given at a 3 star hotel. The some of the other complaints are somewhat valid I mean is a fresh towel too much to ask? My husband and I are not picky by any means and we don't plan to be hanging out in our rooms that much either. This place has a great beach and I plan to enjoy it to the fullest extent. I just need some ideas on how to make the best of this vacation. I'm already planning to bring our own thermal cups to use and we were already planning to go into Tulum or PDC to eat a few nights for variety but I want to have a back-up plan just in case things really take a turn for the worst but we’re on a budget so my back-up plan can’t break the bank either.

Any ideas on hiding cash in our room where it most likely won't be found?

Where are cheapest places to eat in Tulum...Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner? We're renting a car so transportation isn't a problem.

Are there any places to rent snorkel equipment for the week so we don’t need to depend on the hotel staff?

Where is the best place to exchange $$?

Is there any nightlife in Tulum? Not looking for much often just something to take our mind off the bad if there is anything?

Any ideas/strategies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Gale in KY]

I wouldn't take too much to heart TA reviews. Freedom Paradise is not luxury by any means..the food is just ok, but you won't starve. The beach is wonderful, one of the best in the area for snorkeling outside of Akumal. Check with the Dive Shop at Casa Cenote or in Tulum about renting snorkel equipment, or better yet, bring your own. You will get a much better fit for you if you purchase your own equipment. I always take my own. If you have a dive shop local in your area, stop in and let them know you will be snorkeling the Mesoamerican reef..that should get them salivating and they will be able to help you find exactly what you need.

I have seen some of those reviews on TA and I have to wonder if the authors actually stayed there. There isn't much nightlife to speak of, they do have entertainment such as a Mexican Show...but I would rather grab a cab or collectivo and visit PDC for an evening if I am looking for real entertainment.

If you are looking for a good beach to kick back and relax Freedom Paradise is wonderful for that. I had to laugh at the most recent TA report I read about FP..shells on the beach..omg, it's a crisis!:eek: That is the first time I have ever heard anything negative about that beautiful stretch of beach, and water shoes should take care of that problem, if there is indeed a problem.

There is a San Francisico Grocery Store in Tulum, and a Super Chomak in Akumal where you can purchase most anything you need..including a bottle of Tequila and some Margarita Mix just in case they run out.:) I always make a visit to the store for extras, and visiting a grocery in Mexico is very entertaining.

If you find the food not to your liking, Casa Cenote has great food, and there are any number of wonderful restaurants in Akumal and Tulum. Don't limit yourself to the resort..there is some wonderful food in the area..check it out!;)

[Gale in KY]

Restaurants-Just down the beach from FP is the Blue Sky. Their food is awesome but a little pricey. I would recommend a meal there.
If you go Tulum Beach, Nacho's is very good, and Zamas gets great reviews, it is a wonderful atmosphere, right on the beach. Posada Margarita is one of the more upscale restaurants on the beach, I have heard the food is great but have not eaten there. In Town my favorites are La Nave, Charlie's, E Pequeno Buenos Aires Steakhouse and Cafe Calipso which specializes in Maya Cusine, but there are so many restaurants to choose from in Tulum, you could eat every meal at a different place and not begin to sample them all. If you get a craving for a sub, there is a Subway at the ruins:rolleyes:

On Soliman Bay, just minutes from FP is Oscar Y Lalo's..this is a must do for lunch and some relaxing beach time in the afternoon.

Casa Cenote on Tankah Bay, very close to FP is a wonderful place to eat, good food and you can check out Manatee Cenote while you are there. I am not sure if Gary has resumed the Sunday BBQ..but if he has it is always a good bet.

A little to the north is Akumal. Turtle Bay Bakery is a must do for breakfast. Lol-ha beach bar is right there on Akumal Bay, bring your snorkel gear with you and spend a day here, this is a snorkler's heaven. The sealife, turtles, rays, and tropical fish are abundant. La Buena Vida is a neat place to have dinner and you can usually find a little partying going on in the evenings too. Great Happy Hour here...have lunch or dinner in their treehouses overlooking Half Moon Bay. LaLunita used to be good, but lately I have heard that the quality is not as good as it used to be, will have to check that out for myself next trip down. Lucy's Kitchen has the best shrimp tacos anywhere and they are very inexpensive, she also has homemade icecream that nobody can resist!:D

Order a map from Mapchick..she has everything mapped out with comments..best map/guidebook you can get for the area!

www.cancunmap.com
'

[Ginger]

hide your cash in your safe. Every room will have one.

People who leave expensive electronics and money out where it can be seen/stolen and not in a safe are asking for trouble. Same thing goes for any hotel in the US or Canada too, by the way.

[mrst]

Actually, every room doesn't have a safe. There apparently are only a selective few at the front desk to 'check out'. I know, seems strange.:confused:

[Gale in KY]

I would never leave cash or other valuables in the room while I wasn't there..thefts occur all over the world all the time, and if you wouldn't leave cash or other valuables unattended at home, why do it when you vacation?

I am not really comfortable with lobby safes either..if the room doesn't have it's own, I would look for other ways to safely protect my belongings.

Get a lock for your carryon and luggage. Locks keep honest people honest, and if a thief wants in they will get in, but you can make it a little more difficult for them.

If you room has a slider, go to one of the stores and buy a broom..get one of the housekeeping staff to cut the broom stick to fit behind the slider..this will bar anyone from opening it, locked or unlocked..I do this with my sliding patio doors here at home. With the door shut, put the stick in the space where it slides.

If you don't leave your money, you have to carry it with you..Locogringo has a neat "beachsafe" that is water resistant, and it holds cash, credit cards, and your passport etc. It is very expensive..only $.99..well worth it..I have two..have worn them snorkeling and love it, a very easy way to keep your stuff with you.

Check it out at the bottom of the page, click on "Plastic Beach Safe" for info..right now it is buy one get one free.

http://store.locogringo.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LS&Category_Code=LGM

[BeachDude]

Gale is correct about the TA reviews... it is amazing how some people on there complain about the most silly things! :p

As for hiding valuables...
I don't bring many valuables on the trip itself, but while out of the room, I use one of those thin, cloth "money belts". You clip it around your waist, under your shirt. It's very thin and only good for carrying cash or passport, etc. Keep non-valuable items in your regular pants pockets and the other more valuable stuff around your waist... under a t-shirt, no one can even tell you have it on. Got mine at Target, in the travel section.

In the room, I hide stuff in unsuspecting "ordinary" places where thieves would be least likely to look or take: an empty Band-Aid box, for example. Or you could use anything like that, just be creative. And that stuff I keep stowed away in my bag among other "real" everyday items.

Just use common sense - if you leave valuables out in the open, there's a chance they could be stolen. As Ginger mentioned, this is the same for any hotel in any country, unfortunately. Good luck!